Obenshain is running a steady on message and aggressive campaign. He is working hard and getting the job done. While the left is busy tying Cuccinelli to a falling governor, and trying to call a refreshingly honest African American extreme, they have largely left Obenshain to steadily become the best bet of the three to win.

While we need all three to win, recent court decisions make the Attorney General office a crucial office for defending conservative laws. In light of the Supreme Court’s Prop 8 ruling, an Attorney General who refuses to defend a law in court almost insures the law will be struck down.

Obenshain is a principled conservative who unites the party and is working hard to win in November. This historic fundraising is yet another encouraging sign from a very well run campaign.

Almost equally amazing is the LG race. As the “extreme” candidate, and a political neophyte running against a veteran state senator, Jackson was supposed to be the one blown out of the water. Instead Jackson is neck and neck with Northam.

Northam has $106,184 COH while Jackson has $90,025. While many have worried that Jackson would crater in the general election, running neck and neck with Northam should be an encouraging sign of what could be a November surprise.

In the effort to paint Jackson as the most extreme candidate in history, the Democrats and their media allies have latched onto the following statement:

“The Democrat Party has created an unholy alliance between certain so-called civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood, which has killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions. Planned Parenthood has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was.”

Senator Steve Martin took to facebook to defend the Lieutenant Governor Nominee’s statement.

A critical analysis on the truth of EW’s condemned statement, would have to conclude its accuracy… There is in fact an alliance that the democrat party oversees and assures, between people who refer to themselves as civil rights leaders and Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood was in fact established by Margaret Sanger for the primary purpose of killing black babies (she said so herself in recorded statements). And, it has been successful in carrying out its original mission, killing tens of millions of black babies. And as such, it has been far more lethal to black lives than the KKK (another original creation of the democrat party in the south) ever was. click here for full statement

This brought him under fire from the media for daring to compare the liberals most sacred organization to one of the most racist organizations in U.S. history.

Since some are rather intent on vilifying the messenger, let’s take a look at the truth of the statements made.

The Klu Klux Klan is a racist organization that lynched many people for being black or sympathizing with blacks. That is detestable.

That said, let’s look at the numbers…

Walter Hoye, founder and president of the Issues4Life Foundation, shared those statistics at a press conference on Tuesday where Black clergy and other leaders gathered in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of murdering three newborn babies.

“Right now to give some of us just a perspective of the impact of abortion on demand in the Black community, according to the archives of the Tuskegee Institute, from 1882 to 1968 — 86 years — the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 Negroes,” Hoye said. “While it took the Klan 86 years to accomplish this, abortion on demand in America accomplishes that in less than four days.” full analysis of the numbers can be found at this site.

Another report looked at the annual number of African-Americans aborted and found the following comparable statistics based off of CDC numbers and the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute.

Abortion is the number one killer of black lives in the United States. More than HIV. More than diabetes. More than heart disease. More than cancer. Abortion snuffs out more black lives than all other causes of death, combined (according to the CDC). Using statistics from 2008 (because that is the most recent year available which provides nationwide abortion stats), there were 363,705 abortions in the black community. According to pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, this number represents 30% (the percentage of black abortions) of the nation’s 1,212,350 abortions in 2008. All other causes of death amounted to 285,522. full details can be found here.

Watch the following video, and tell me based on numbers that Jackson and Martin are wrong. If they aren’t, you should be just as outraged as they are.

Now, this is something important to remember, the only people with original access to the addresses, phone numbers, and emails of convention delegates are the campaigns. So any third party groups contacting convention delegates got their list from a campaign.

Over the weekend, Stewart’s newest line of attack was revealed. He sees E.W. Jackson as a threat, and has been trying to get people to attack E.W. based on his past bankruptcies.

On Saturday morning I was contacted by a reporter about a document of opposition research he had received about E.W. Jackson’s financial history. From the email and the properties document on the file, it was clear that this document was created Friday morning, May 10, and forwarded to the reporter. When I talked to the reporter, I immediately asked if he got the research from Corey, he admitted that he did when I pressed him.

That afternoon, I received an anonymous email from a vatruthsquad2000@gmail.com which released another document of information about tax information on Jackson. Besides the content, the email also caught my eye because, while it is a different address, it has the same moniker as the vile anti-Stimpson email sent out at the beginning of the month.

As I started researching the Stewart campaigns effort to discredit Jackson based on his financial history, I discovered something even more disturbing. Multiple sources confirmed to me that over the weekend Corey Stewart personally contacted third party groups offering to pay the $12,000.00 if they would send out a $10,000.00 mailer to the convention delegates attacking E.W. for his financial history. While I am told, that Stewart was turned down by some, I am also told he eventually found someone who agreed. If you find an anonymous mailer in your mailbox right before the convention, or even after the convention, if the mailer gets stuck in the mail, you will know who it is from.

While I both trust my sources, and generally hate anonymous blog commenters, I find it interesting that while I was working on verifying sources for this article, an anonymous commenter named, TheGipper, started posting essentially the same story on multiple blogs.

I won’t attempt to be a state campaign law expert, but it sure seems like what Corey has been doing with the anonymous videos/calls, the VLG mailer, and the Jackson attack line is skirting the law. Virginia’s campaign finance system is built on unlimited money but absolute transparency in disclosing expenditures and donors. When organizations and campaigns are working hard to conceal donors and expenditures, it sure seems like they are undermining the purpose and premise of the state’s campaign finance system.

Virginia’s statewide candidates have been remarkably silent. They’ve been quite willing to talk about federal issues in this race: Obamacare, the 2nd Amendment, The Patriot Act, and Standing with Rand to name a few. So I asked them where they stood.

The definition of the family is a crucial issue for government to grapple with. Prop 8 also makes the stance of state officials particularly important because in California, state officials refused to defend the law before the courts. Will our LG nominee stand strong in defending marriage, or will he/she be comfortable with the continuing erosions? Will our Attorney General nominee be willing to defend the state’s marriage amendment if it is challenged in court?

Below are the statements provided by either the candidates or their campaigns.

Lieutenant Governor

Jeannemarie Devolites Davis:

As a traditional, pro-life Catholic, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. That is why I voted for the Constitutional Amendment, both in 2005 and 2006. (The Resolution proposing a Constitutional Amendment must pass two General Assembly Sessions twice, with a House of Delegates election between the two votes – you probably already know that!)

Please keep in mind that my Senate District had a 17 point Democrat generic (only 25% of my voters were Republican), but I voted for the Amendment, none the less, and it failed in my district when it was on the ballot. It’s easy to say you would have voted for it if you’ve never had to, and it’s easy to vote for it when you represent a district that supports it – I am the candidate for LG who actually voted for it in a very tough district in which it failed!

E.W. Jackson:

I strongly support the only true definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. Any other arrangement will never be a marriage no matter what anyone calls it. This has been the definition for thousands of years, and it is disappointing that we have come to a place where radical activists, politicians, lawyers and judges arrogantly seek to change that definition and turn history, biology and reality upside down. Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, the true definition will never change. With love and patience toward those who are confusing the issue, I will defend the rights of Americans who hold to the truth against all efforts to persecute and marginalize them. Marriage as we have known it from time immemorial is best for children, best for society, best for American culture, and it is a sacred gift that we dare not desecrate.

I am one of the few candidates for Lt. Governor who has consistently fought for legislation to protect the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman and have supported legislation to protect this sacred institution of marriage. As a husband to my wife of 33 years and a father of three children, I believe that the foundation of our society rests largely on stable and cohesive family units. And it is because of this firm belief that I have supported legislation to preserve the institution of marriage and have fought against legislation that sought to erode, even if by the slightest bit, this sacred institution.

Since my first campaign to represent the people of the 31st District, I have promised to remain dedicated to “faith, family, and freedom” and I have kept that promise. And my record as a legislator demonstrates that:

In 2004, I supported the Marriage Affirmation Act, which prohibited “A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges and obligations of marriage is prohibited.” It also prohibited out of state civil unions from being legally recognized in Virginia law

In 2006, I was one of the patrons of HB 101 (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+bil+HB0101) which called for an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. As required in Virginia, this constitutional amendment was put on the ballot in November of 2006 and was approved by the citizens of the Commonwealth.

While others in this campaign “talk” about supporting families, I have an actual record, a 100% rating from the Virginia Family Foundation and was named one of Virginia Family Foundation’s Citizens of the Year in 2001. I am proud of my record and if chosen by the people to be Virginia’s next Lt. Governor, you will not only know where I stand on this important matter by my words, but you will know where I stand by my votes and actions.

Steve Martin:

As you’re probably aware, Senator Martin strongly supported the marriage amendment to the Virginia Constitution. He chaired the committee through which the matter had to pass numerous times, and he personally negotiated the final language of the amendment. Senator Martin truly believes that marriage, properly defined, can only exist between one man and one woman.

Pete Snyder:

Pete believes in traditional marriage as defined in the Virginia Constitution, a definition that was approved by an overwhelming majority of Virginians. He’ll fight to stand up for the traditional family as Lieutenant Governor.

Corey Stewart:

I am committed, as a Christian and as a public leader, in supporting marriage between one man and one woman, God Ordained Marriage. I supported the VA Marriage Amendment in 2006 and support a federal marriage amendment to the Constitution as well.

It is a sad day for our Republic and our United States when the people have spoken and their elected leaders will not represent the will of the people, as in Proposition 8 in California. Furthermore, I believe the states should decide public policy on marriage, however, the issue of God Ordained Marriage is so prominently essential to our society, as the family is the backbone of our society, I believe there should be a federal marriage amendment to constitutionally protect marriage between one man and one woman.

Susan Stimpson:

She believes marriage is between a man and woman. She supports Virginia’s constitutional amendment affirming that. She does not support same sex marriage.

Attorney General

Rob Bell:

Rob Bell supports traditional marriage between one man and one woman. As Attorney General he will defend Virginia’s laws and Constitution, including the Marriage Amendment voters enshrined in the state constitution.

There have been a number of polls taken on the LG race. However, with a 7 person race, it is important to figure out more than just who people’s front runners are. Please take a moment and fill out the following poll and share it with your friends. I’m trying to get a more in depth handle on the race. I’ll be sure to post a very thorough analysis of the poll afterwards. I will hold it open for two weeks.

Over the past month, I’ve been watching the Republican Party of Virginia release tweets attacking Democrats for not supporting incredible spending packages while going after Democrat obstructionism. One would think supporters of limited government would be the ones opposing a 3+billion dollar project that only keeps increasing in cost, and required revenue. One would expect the the Democrat Party to attack Republicans for opposing reckless spending.

Not only does RPV support higher spending, they support higher taxes to pay for the higher spending.

This session the Governor and the Republicans in the legislature decided passing a transportation plan had to happen. The Governor offered a plan that slightly increased taxes, the Senate Dems pushed a plan that drastically increased taxes. What has come out of the conference committee is a McDonnell/Bolling/McAuliffe endorsed plan that raises taxes on gas, cars, and the sales tax among other things. Interestingly this plan may cause gas shortages over the summer.

What is particularly troubling is that the RPV has been supporting these plans. Multiple sources relayed to me that on a recent call with the RPV Executive committee, Chairman Pat Mullins told the members that the transportation was crucial to the Governor and they needed to get their unit committees to support the package. Multiple District Chairs who are normally not rabble rousers were very upset that Chairman Mullins was asking them to support a tax hike which they knew their members opposed. This is a far cry from five years ago when Chairman Jeff Frederick made it clear that the RPV strongly opposed tax increases.

Thankfully many statewide candidates including E.W. Jackson, Pete Snyder, and Susan Stimpson oppose the transportation tax package. However, this package looks like it will be passed tomorrow. (It may also already be hurting Ken Cuccinelli electorally.) If it does pass, the Republican Party of Virginia can no longer claim to be the party of limited spending and lower taxes. If this hurts them at the ballot boxes, they have no one to blame but themselves.